Well even writing this post I got hit by retrogrades. My computer decided to do an install and didn't save my work. So even this blog has been re-written. But let me back up (lol, pun intended). Retrogrades or retrograde motion, in case you have no idea what I'm talking about, are when the planets appear to be moving backwards in the sky. You have probably heard of Mercury Retrograde (and yes, it is right now). But you may not know or hear about all the other planets going retrograde, which, since they are also in our solar system going around the sun, do go retrograde from time to time (far less frequently than Mercury, which gets all the attention). As it turns out, Mars is also retrograde, which I am definitely feeling. Additionally more of the outer planets, Saturn, Pluto are also retrograde, with Uranus to follow suit soon. So what does this all mean!? Well, without going into a deep astrological explanation, I'll just tell you about how my recent trip went, which also happened to start on the Lunar Eclipse. Silly me, making travels plans on a lunar eclipse with both Mercury and Mars retrograde and expecting my flight to leave on time. Oh yeah, got to the airport early (already anticipating something to go awry), not checking on any luggage to avoid that headache, and my flight gets delayed 5 hours!! Finally take off (5 hours later) and fly across the country (I was visiting a friend in New Jersey) and we had to circle in the air for an extra hour since the airport was temporarily closed (all of these delays due to weather - remember that Lunar eclipse?!). We REscheduled our plans for that evening to a different day. (Oh did I mention that retrogrades are a better time for words starting with "re"). Right before I landed (after this 5 hour delay and 5 hour flight), I realized that this long term knitting project I was working on (and have been for the last 3 years, I call it my "plane project" because it usually requires so much focus and attention I can only work on it during plane rides), was majorly messed up. Although the mistake didn't originate when Mercury was retrograde, apparently it started the last trip I took, which happened when Mars went retrograde! Perhaps knitting snafus are even more prone during a Mars retrograde than Mercury! I calculated a loss of about 8-12 hours (or about how long it might take to knit a hat), and proceeded to rip out (AH!) 25 rows of about 500sts. Turns out even I can't read knitting patterns sometimes (though this one came from a magazine, which is why I warn of those!). But I was able to get the project back on track and RE-do most of it. Turns out I had plenty of time to work on that since the plane ride home was also delayed (although thankfully only 1.5 hours). Getting off the plane was also delayed (something about unloading cargo) and my ride had fallen asleep waiting to pick me up! Then when we left the airport we got stuck in traffic (it was after 11pm!). Delays, slow-downs, hiccups. These all seem to be traits of things during retrogrades. You can't get upset, you just have to prepare, and deal. TLDR; the same is true of knitting projects. Prepare yourself by utilizing the tools to their full extent (use row counters, stitch markers - LIFELINES!). Deal with setbacks in a positive manner - learn to TINK! But always keep in mind, this too shall pass. Sometimes living and learning are hard, but usually if you persevere, you will learn something.